UNIVERSITY ADDRESS INDUSTRY
ADDRESS
Department of Geosciences Ashton
Mining of Canada, Inc.
University of Arizona Unit
118-980 West 1st Street
Tucson, Arizona 85721 USA North
Vancouver, B.C. V7P 3N4
tom.mccandless@ashton.ca
(520) 621-6024 (604)
983-7750
(520) 621-2672 fax (604)
987-7107 fax
EDUCATION
1994. Ph.D.
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. Evaluation of the molybdenite
rhenium-osmium geochronometer, and its application to base metal porphyry
mineralization.
1982.
M.Sc. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. The mineralogy, morphology,
and chemistry of detrital minerals of a kimberlitic and eclogitic nature, Green
River Basin, Wyoming.
1978.
B.Sc. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. Cum laude.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2002-present:
Research Associate, Dept. of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of British
Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Honorary appointment in the Mineral Deposits
Research Unit (MDRU). Teach graduate-level lectures in geochemistry and mineral
exploration to students, and short courses in diamond exploration to industry
participants. Service on thesis committees and directing graduate student
research in kimberlite and diamond genesis.
2001-present:
Adjunct Professor,
Dept.
of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona USA. Adjunct position
for lliason between academia and industry. Gratis instruction and advising to
students on topics relating to mineral exploration.
2000-present:
Chief Mineralogist, Ashton Mining of Canada Inc., North Vancouver, BC, Canada. Responsible for
geochemical and mineralogical aspects of diamond exploration ventures in USA,
Canada and South America. Manager of minerals exploration lab, chairman of
project generation committee for grassroots exploration in North and South
America.
1996-2000:
Research Scientist, Center for Mineral Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
USA. Principal investigator for innovative analytical techniques applied to
ore deposit genesis and exploration.
1994-1996: Post Doctoral Associate,
Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona USA. Developed geochemical
applications for the SOLA/System 266 laser ablation ICP mass spectrometer, in a
post-doctoral position funded by Finnigan-MAT.
1993-2000:
Minerals Consultant, Mineral Commodity Consultants, Tucson, Arizona USA. Mineralogical consultant for
base, precious metal and diamond exploration in the United States, southern
Africa, and Canada.
1988-1993:
Research Assistant,
Department
of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona USA. Re-Os isotope analysis and
research on porphyry copper and PGE deposits. Participated in
industry-supported initiative to re-interpret Archean and Proterozoic geology
of Western Australia using the terrane analysis concept.
1988-1996:
Visiting Scientist,
Dept.
of Geological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town South Africa. Researched the
origins of 13C-depleted eclogitic diamonds and diamond xenoliths,
and dating diamond eclogite xenoliths using Re-Os isotopes.
1988-1993:
Teaching Assistant,
Department
of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona USA. Instructor for undergraduate
igneous petrology and introductory mineralogy/optical mineralogy labs. Lectured
in advanced igneous petrology, economic geology, geochronology, and tectonics.
1985-1988:
Research Scientist,
Dept.
of Geological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town South Africa. Assistant director of the
Kimberlite Research Group. Researched the geochemistry of mantle eclogite and
the carbon isotope characteristics of diamonds. Teaching included economic
geochemistry, geochemistry of diamonds, XRF techniques.
1985-1988:
Consulting Geologist, Minerale Dienste (Mineral Services), Cape Town South Africa. Consultant for kimberlite,
alluvial diamond, and base metals exploration in South Africa, Botswana, and
Namibia.
1981-1985:
Minerals Geologist,
Superior
Oil, Minerals Division, Tucson, Arizona USA. Supervisor of diamond and precious metals
exploration lab. Developed in-house seminars for economic assessment of heavy
mineral chemistry and microdiamonds in kimberlites.
1980-1981:
Teaching Assistant,
Dept.
of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah USA. Basic mapping techniques,
aerial photograph interpretation, and rock and mineral identification were
taught to undergraduate and graduate students in mining and geology.
1978:
Consulting Geologist, Coal Systems, Incorporated, Salt Lake City, Utah USA. Researched and compiled
reports for the estimation of mineable Tertiary coal deposits in southwestern
North Dakota.
UNIVERSITY
SERVICE
Mineral
Deposits Research Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada:
2003-present: Board Member, Mineral Deposits Research Unit. Industry and
academia members guide development of research initiatives on metallic and
non-metallic ore deposits.
2002-present:
Thesis Co-Advisor for two M.Sc. students: Volcanology of the Buffalo
Head Hills Kimberlites, Alberta, Canada. L.Boyer (2004); Transitions in
Eruptive Processes in the Kimberlite Root Zone: The Renard Kimberlites, Quebec.
E. Gofton (2006).
2002-present:
Lecturer. Invited lectures on
isotope geochemistry; genesis of diamonds and kimberlite; diamond
crystallography and morphology.
Department
of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson Arizona:
1994-1996: Graduate Academic
Professional Committee.
1993-1995:
Member, Graduate Admissions Committee. Reviewed and determined acceptance of
new graduate students to the department.
MEMBERSHIPS
Society of Economic Geologists (Fellow)
Association
of Professional Engineers and Geologists of British Columbia (P.Geo.)
Geological
Society of America
Prospectors
and Developers Association of Canada
British
Columbia and Yukon Chamber of Mines
Mining
Exploration Group (Vancouver)
FUNDED
RESEARCH
1979-1981:
Superior Minerals USA. Negotiated and obtained full industry support for M.Sc. degree
1991-1993:
NSF - Resolving problems in molybdenite Re-Os geochronometry (P.I. J.Ruiz)
1992-1993:
BHP Economic Geology Scholarship
1994-1996:
NSF - Rhenium-Osmium isotope systematics of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa
(Co-P.I. with J.Ruiz)
1991-1993:
NSF - Collaborative Research: ICP-MS and laser ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICPMS) for
the determination of metals in fluid inclusions: a pilot study (Co-P.I. with
J.Ruiz)
1996-1998:
NSF - Re-Os isotopes of ore deposits (Co-P.I. with J. Ruiz, S.R. Titley, J.T. Chesley)
2002-2004:
NSERC - Geology and Volcanology of the Buffalo Hills Kimberlites, Alberta,
Canada (MDRU/Ashton)
2004-2006:
NSERC – Transitions in Eruptive Processes in the Kimberlite Root Zone: The
Renard Kimberlites, Quebec (MDRU/Ashton)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Diamonds,
Eclogites and Kimberlite Exploration
Hood,
C.T. and McCandless, T.E. 2004. Systematic variations in xenocryst mineral
composition at the province scale, Buffalo Hills kimberlites, Alberta, Canada.
Lithos, 77, 733-747.
Birkett,
T.C., McCandless, T.E. and Hood, C.T. 2004. Petrology of the Renard igneous
bodies: host rocks for diamond in the northern Otish Mountains Region, Quebec.
Lithos, 76, 475-490.
Aulbach,
S.J., Griffin, W.L., O’Reilly, S.Y., and McCandless, T.E. 2004. Genesis and
evolution of the lithospheric mantle beneath the Buffalo Head Terrane, Alberta.
Lithos, 77, 413-451.
Davies,
R., Griffin, W.L., O’Reilly, S.Y. and McCandless, T.E. 2004. Inclusions in
diamonds from the K14 and K10 kimberlites, Buffalo Hills, Alberta, Canada: diamond
growth in a plume? Lithos, 77, 99-111.
Skelton,
D.N., Clements, B., McCandless, T.E., Hood, C., Aulbach, S., Davies, R. and
Boyer, L.P. 2003. The Buffalo Head Hills kimberlite province, Alberta. In
Kjarsgaard, B.A. (editor) Slave Province and northern Alberta Field Trip
Guidebook. Geological Survey of Canada, CD-ROM, pp.11-20.
Taylor,
L.R., Keller, R.A., Snyder, G.A., Wang, W., Carlson, W.D., Hauri, E.H.,
McCandless, T.E., Kim, K-R., Sobolev, N.V. and Bexbordov, S.M. 2000. Diamonds
and their mineral inclusions, and what they tell us: a detailed “pull apart” of
a diamondiferous eclogite. International Geology Review, 42, 959-983.
McCandless,
T.E. Kimberlites: mantle expressions of deep-seated subduction. 1999. in
Gurney, J.J., Gurney, J.L., Pascoe, M.D. and Richardson, S.H. (editors)
Proceedings of the 7th International Kimberlite Conference, Volume 2, pp.
545-549. Red Roof Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa.
Ruiz, J.
McCandless, T.E., and Helmstaedt, H.H. 1999. Re-Os model ages for eclogite
xenoliths from the Colorado Plateau, USA. in Gurney, J.J., Gurney, J.L.,
Pascoe, M.D. and Richardson, S.H. (editors) Proceedings of the 7th
International Kimberlite Conference, Volume 2, pp. 736-740. Red Roof
Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa.
McCandless,
T.E., Letendre, J. and Eastoe, C.J. 1999. The morphology and carbon isotope
chemistry of microdiamonds from the Dachine diamondiferous body, French Guiana.
in Gurney, J.J., Gurney, J.L., Pascoe, M.D. and Richardson, S.H. (editors)
Proceedings of the 7th International Kimberlite Conference, Volume 2, pp.
550-556. Red Roof Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa.
Hausel,
W.D., McCandless, T.E., Kucera, R.E. and Gregory, R.W. 1999. Mantle-derived
diatremes in the southern Green River Basin, Wyoming, USA. in Gurney, J.J., Gurney,
J.L., Pascoe, M.D. and Richardson, S.H. (editors) Proceedings of the 7th
International Kimberlite Conference, Volume 2, pp. 348-352. Red Roof
Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa.
McCandless,
T.E. and Gurney, J.J. 1997. Diamond eclogites: comparison with carbonaceous
chondrites, carbonaceous shales, and microbial carbon-enriched MORB. In: N.V.
Sobolev and R.H. Mitchell (Eds.) 6th International Kimberlite Conference Volume
2, Diamonds: Characterization, Genesis and Exploration. Russian Geology and Geophysics,
38, 394-404, Allerton Press, New York.
Hausel,
W.D., Kucera, R.E., McCandless, T.E. and Gregory, R.W. 1997. Diamond
exploration targets in the Wyoming Craton, western United States. Wyoming State
Geological Survey, Mineral Report MR97-2, 50p.
McCandless,
T.E. and Nash, W.P. 1996. Detrital mantle indicator minerals in southwestern
Wyoming, USA: evaluation of mantle environment, igneous host, and diamond
exploration significance. Exploration and Mining Geology, 5, 33-44.
McCandless,
T.E., Nash, W.P., and Hausel, W.D. 1995. Mantle-derived minerals in anthills
and paleoconglomerates of the southern Green River Basin, Wyoming. In Jones,
R.G. (ed.) Wyoming Geological Association Guidebook, p.153-163.
McCandless,
T.E., Waldman, M.A. and Gurney, J.J. 1994. Macro- and microdiamonds from
Arkansas lamproites: morphology, inclusions, and isotope geochemistry. In:
H.O.A.Meyer and O.H. Leonardos, (Eds.), 5th International Kimberlite
Conference, Volume 2, Diamonds: Characterization, Genesis and Exploration,
pp.78-97. CPRM Special Publication 1/B Jan/94, Companha de Pesquisa de Recursos
Minerais, Brasilia, Brazil.
Gurney,
J.J., Moore, R.O., Kirkley, M.B., Otter, M.L., Hopps, J.J. and McCandless, T.E.
1991. Kimberlites of southern Africa: a review. In: A.B. Kampunzu and R.T.
Lubala, (Eds.), Magmatism in Extensional Structural Settings - the Phanerozoic
African Plate, Chapter 14, pp.495-536. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
McCandless,
T.E. 1990. Kimberlite xenocryst wear in high energy fluvial systems:
experimental studies. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 37, 323-331.
McCandless, T.E. and
Collins, D.S. 1989. A diamond-graphite eclogite from the Sloan 2 kimberlite,
Colorado, USA. In: J.M. Ross (Ed.), Kimberlite and Related Rocks, Volume 2:
Their Mantle/Crust Setting, Diamonds and Diamond Exploration. Geological
Society of Australia, Special Publication 14, pp. 1063-1069. Blackwell
Scientific, Victoria, Australia.
McCandless,
T.E. and Gurney, J.J. 1989. Sodium in garnet and potassium in clinopyroxene:
criteria for classifying mantle eclogites. In: J.M. Ross (Ed.), Kimberlites and
Related Rocks, Volume 2: Their Mantle/Crust Setting, Diamonds and Diamond
Exploration. Geological Society of Australia Special Publication 14, pp.
827-832. Blackwell Scientific, Victoria, Australia.
See also
diamond-related abstracts of presentations at
national and international meetings.
Laser
Ablation ICP-MS Stuff
McCandless,
T.E., Baker, M.E. and Ruiz, J. 1997.Trace element analysis of natural gold by
laser ablation ICPMS: a combined external/internal standards approach.
Geostandards Newsletter, 21,271-278.
McCandless,
T.E., Lajack, D.J., Ruiz, J. and Ghazi, A.M., 1997. Trace element determination
of single fluid inclusions in quartz by laser ablation ICP-MS. Geostandards
Newsletter, 21, 279-287.
Sylvester,
P.J. and McCandless, T.E., 1997. editors, "Analytical Methodologies and
Geochemical Applications of Laser Ablation ICP-MS". Geostandards
Newsletter, Volume 21, Number 2. Ten submitted manuscripts were edited,
resulting in a total of 126 published pages.
Ghazi,
A.M., McCandless, T.E., Ruiz, J. and Vanko, D.A. 1996. New quantitative
approach in trace elemental analysis of single fluid inclusions: applications
of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS).
Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 11, 667-674.
See also
laser ablation abstracts of presentations at
national and international meetings.
Re-Os
Isotope Sytematics of Crust and Mantle Ore Deposits
McCandless,
T.E., Ruiz, J., Adair, B.I. and Freydier, C. 1999. Re-Os isotope and Pd/Ru
variations in chromitites from the Critical Zone, Bushveld Complex, South
Africa. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 63, 911-923.
Ruiz, J.,
Freydier, C., McCandless, T.E., Chesley, J.T. and Munizaga, F. 1997. Re-Os
isotope systematics of base metal porphyry and manto-type deposits, Chile.
International Geology Review, 39, 317-324.
Freydier,
C., Ruiz, J., Chesley, J.T., McCandless, T.E. and Munizaga, F. 1997. Re-Os
systematics of sulfides from felsic igneous rocks: application to base metal
porphyry mineralization in Chile. Geology, 25, 775-778.
McCandless,
T.E., Ruiz, J. and Campbell, A.R. 1993. Re distribution in molybdenite from
hypogene and supergene environments: implications for Re-Os geochronometry.
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 57, 889-905.
McCandless,
T.E. and Ruiz, J. 1993. Rhenium-osmium evidence for regional mineralization in
southwestern North America. Science, 261, 1282-1286.
McCandless,
T.E., and Ruiz, J. 1991. Osmium isotopes and crustal sources for platinum-group
mineralization in the Bushveld Complex, South Africa. Geology, 19, 1225-1228.
See also
Re-Os abstracts of presentations at national and
international meetings.
Newspaper/Magazine/Book
Interviews
Krajick, K.
2001. Barren Lands. Times Books, Henry Holt and Co., New York. 442 p.
Krajack,
K. 1994. The Great Canadian Diamond Rush. Discover, 15, 12, 70-79.
Broad, W.
1994. Diamonds Hold Clues to Earths Rich Lodes. New York Times, February 15,
1994.